{"id":5026,"date":"2025-08-11T17:55:05","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T17:55:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shegerianconniff.com\/?p=5026"},"modified":"2025-08-11T17:55:05","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T17:55:05","slug":"the-emotional-toll-of-injury-why-mental-health-should-be-considered-in-settlements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shegerianconniff.com\/dev\/the-emotional-toll-of-injury-why-mental-health-should-be-considered-in-settlements\/","title":{"rendered":"The Emotional Toll of Injury: Why Mental Health Should Be Considered in Settlements"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you\u2019re injured, most people think of broken bones, cuts, bruises, and head injuries. The emotional impact often gets overlooked, and it often causes more long-term damage than physical injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether the injuries were deliberate or accidental, the emotional toll shouldn\u2019t be ignored. Any settlement offer<\/a> needs to weigh the emotional damage you\u2019re undergoing. From PTSD to panic attacks, the amount you\u2019re awarded or receive in a settlement offer needs to consider the mental health issues you experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

How a Physical Injury Impacts Your Mental Health<\/span><\/h3>\n

Physical pain is just one of the results of an accident or injury. The emotional anguish is equally damaging. Once an accident or attack occurs and results in injuries, it also impacts you emotionally. It affects your sense of safety. It can make you feel worthless, especially if you have a long path to restored mobility.<\/span><\/p>\n

After an accident or injury, the effects on your mental health may include some or all of the following.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Anxiety<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anxiety is defined as a situation where you\u2019re always worried. You\u2019re fearful, nervous, and always on edge. People with anxiety often become irritable for no reason, feel overwhelmed, and experience nervousness at the smallest things.<\/span><\/p>\n

When anxiety isn\u2019t managed, it can progress into full-blown panic attacks. Panic attacks often manifest in physical ways. You could be watching TV and suddenly feel tense, find your heart racing, and experience chest pain and shortness of breath. Sweating, shaking, and dissociative symptoms are also possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

As some symptoms of a panic attack resemble a heart attack, that feeds into the cycle of anxiety and panic. It becomes a tough battle to manage without expert help.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Depression<\/strong><\/p>\n

Depression ranges is a mood disorder that often follows an injury or accident. The signs of depression include more than persistent sadness. You might find it hard to go to sleep or stay asleep. You might find it hard to function, which makes it hard to go to work, school, or events with friends and family.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your appetite might change, and you find it hard to eat or binge eat too often. Severe depression might have you thinking of ending your life. Depression needs to be addressed to prevent you from giving up.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)<\/strong><\/p>\n

PTSD is a common reaction to a traumatic event, such as a serious car accident<\/a> or mugging. You may experience nightmares and flashbacks. Certain triggers, like the sound of breaking glass or a backfiring car, may trigger immediate, panicked responses.<\/span><\/p>\n

You feel a sense of unease and are jumpy and always watching and waiting for another accident or intentional act to happen. PTSD can prevent someone in a car accident from wanting to drive again. It can keep a victim of a mugging from wanting to leave the house. Experts can help you manage PTSD and live a fulfilling life.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Chronic Pain<\/strong><\/p>\n

In addition, chronic pain often impacts mental health. Chronic pain becomes difficult to bear, which can increase the chances of becoming depressed or anxious. Sometimes, there is no underlying cause for the chronic pain, which feeds more into anxiety and depression.<\/span><\/p>\n

California\u2019s Legal Landscape Regarding Emotional Distress<\/span><\/h3>\n

Victims have the right to recover damages if the accident or intentional act caused serious emotional distress. There are two types of claims:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress \u2013 Reckless conduct caused the emotional distress.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress \u2013 Negligence led to emotional distress.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    No matter whether the distress is intentional or caused by negligence, there\u2019s a two-year statute of limitations. You need to file an emotional distress claim quickly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    California law includes the following as aspects of emotional distress:<\/span><\/p>\n